HONOR X5c Plus Review: Unlock Your eXtra Power

17 Min Read

Smartphones today play a huge role in everyday life, especially for students and young users who rely on their devices for communication, entertainment, and productivity. Whether it’s scrolling through social media, watching videos, chatting with friends, or staying updated with school activities, having a reliable smartphone can make daily routines much easier.

The HONOR X5c Plus is designed with these everyday needs in mind. With the tagline “Unlock Your eXtra Power,” it comes packed with practical features like a 5260mAh long-lasting battery, 8GB RAM in equivalence through HONOR RAM Turbo (4GB + 4GB), 128GB expandable storage, and a 50MP Ultra-Clear Camera, offering a balanced experience for both productivity and entertainment.

We’re fortunate enough to have our hands on the new HONOR X5c Plus in the Ocean Cyan color variant, equipped with 4GB RAM and 128GB of storage. The device is also available in Meteor Silver. In this hands-on review, we’ll walk you through everything from the unboxing experience to real-world performance and everyday usability. If you’re considering a budget-friendly smartphone that can handle your daily productivity and entertainment needs, this guide will help you decide if the HONOR X5c Plus is the right choice.

HONOR X5c Plus Review

Unboxing / Accessories

The HONOR X5c Plus comes in a clean and straightforward package that reflects the phone’s practical approach. The box itself keeps things simple and focuses on giving users everything they need to start using the device right away.

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Opening the box reveals the HONOR X5c Plus, neatly wrapped in protective plastic. Beneath the device, you will find all the essentials for a smooth setup: a charging brick, USB-C cable, SIM ejector tool, and documentation that walks users through the basics of the phone.

HONOR X5c Plus Review

HONOR also includes a free TPU protective case, which is a nice addition for protecting the phone from everyday scratches and minor bumps. The inclusion of the case is practical for users who want instant protection as soon as they start using the device. For many users, especially students upgrading their phones, having a protective case included right out of the box is definitely a welcome bonus.

Build Quality / Design

The HONOR X5c Plus keeps its design simple yet modern. The device has a clean look that makes it feel approachable and easy to use, especially for students and everyday users who want a smartphone that is both functional and stylish.

With dimensions of 167 × 77 × 7.9 mm, the phone maintains a relatively slim profile despite having a large display. The size feels balanced in the hand, making it comfortable to use while browsing apps, watching videos, or chatting with friends. Its sleek, modern design also makes it easy to slip into backpacks or pockets for on-the-go use.

HONOR X5c Plus Review

One useful feature is the side fingerprint power button, which allows users to unlock the phone quickly with a single touch. Instead of typing a password every time, the fingerprint sensor makes unlocking the device fast and convenient. HONOR also includes Knuckle Screenshots, which lets users take a screenshot by simply knocking twice on the screen with a knuckle, a quick way to capture important information.

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HONOR X5c Plus Review

While these features are not new or groundbreaking, they are commonly found on midrange to flagship smartphones, so having them on a budget-friendly device like the HONOR X5c Plus is a smart move. For students and everyday users, this means they get modern conveniences without paying a premium.

Display

The HONOR X5c Plus features a 6.74-inch high-definition display, giving users plenty of screen space for everyday activities like watching videos, browsing social media, or reading articles online.

The phone also supports a 90Hz refresh rate, which helps make scrolling smoother. When navigating through apps or switching between screens, animations feel more fluid compared to traditional displays.

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Another useful feature is Dynamic Dimming, which helps reduce eye strain during long screen sessions. This can be especially helpful for students who use their phones for studying, reading notes, or researching lessons online. Since many people spend hours looking at their screens, having a display that adjusts more comfortably can make a noticeable difference.

Camera Performance

Photography is one of the key highlights of the HONOR X5c Plus. The phone is equipped with a 50MP main camera with an f/1.8 aperture, supported by a QVGA 0.08MP secondary sensor. This setup allows the device to capture detailed images for everyday moments such as school activities, hangouts with friends, or quick snapshots during daily routines.

HONOR X5c Plus Review

The camera also supports AI Object Recognition and AI Clarity Enhancement, which help automatically improve images depending on the scene. For users who prefer a simple point-and-shoot experience, these AI features help produce clearer photos without needing to manually adjust settings.

In terms of shooting options, the rear camera supports multiple capture modes including Portrait (with beauty and bokeh effects), Photo, Video, and High-Resolution mode. The camera can capture images with a resolution of up to 8160 × 6112 pixels and supports 1080p video recording (1920 × 1080). It also includes 10× digital zoom and a rear LED flash, which can help when shooting subjects that are farther away or in lower lighting conditions.

On the front, the HONOR X5c Plus features a 5MP selfie camera with an f/2.2 aperture. The front camera supports Portrait mode with beauty and bokeh effects, as well as Photo and Video modes, making it suitable for selfies, video calls, or online classes. The front camera supports image resolution of up to 2592 × 1936 pixels and 1080p video recording, allowing users to capture clear selfies and record videos when needed. The device also supports face recognition, which allows users to unlock the phone quickly using facial recognition.

Overall, the HONOR X5c Plus offers a straightforward camera experience designed for everyday photography. With its 50MP Ultra-Clear main camera, AI-assisted features, and multiple shooting modes, the phone provides a practical camera setup for capturing daily memories and social media content.

Here are some sample images taken with the HONOR X5c Plus. These examples showcase its performance in various lighting conditions and scenarios:

Gaming Performance

The HONOR X5c Plus is powered by the MediaTek Helio G81 processor paired with 4GB RAM, which can expand up to 8GB using HONOR RAM Turbo. This helps the phone run everyday apps smoothly and improves multitasking.

During daily use, the phone can run popular mobile games such as Mobile Legends with stable performance and responsive controls during regular gameplay.

The large display also makes games more enjoyable, while the 90Hz refresh rate helps keep movements and animations looking smoother.

The HONOR X5c Plus is best suited for casual gaming and popular mobile titles rather than heavy graphics-intensive games. For users who enjoy playing during breaks or relaxing after a long day, the phone provides a smooth and comfortable gaming experience.

Benchmark Results

To better understand how the HONOR X5c Plus performs, we ran several benchmark tests. These tests help measure how well the phone handles everyday activities such as opening apps, browsing the internet, watching videos, and multitasking.

In everyday use, the HONOR X5c Plus performs smoothly when switching between apps, browsing social media, or watching videos. Benchmark tests help confirm this by measuring the phone’s processing power and overall performance.

In Geekbench 6, the device scored 425 in single-core performance and 1364 in multi-core performance. These scores show that the phone can comfortably handle common tasks such as messaging, web browsing, and using several apps during the day.

For productivity tasks, the phone scored 8473 in PCMark Work 3.0. This benchmark simulates real-world activities like document editing, video playback, and web browsing. A score in this range suggests the device can handle everyday tasks like school work, streaming, and general smartphone use without difficulty.

In AnTuTu Benchmark v11, the HONOR X5c Plus recorded a total score of 327,907. This test measures the overall performance of the device including processing speed, graphics performance, memory speed, and system responsiveness. A score above 300,000 indicates that the phone can run most everyday apps smoothly and support casual gaming.

For graphics stability, the Wild Life Extreme Stress Test recorded a best loop score of 173, a lowest loop score of 170, and 98.3 percent stability. This result shows that the phone maintains consistent performance even during longer workloads, which helps prevent sudden slowdowns when running apps or games for extended periods.

Overall, these results suggest that the HONOR X5c Plus is well suited for daily smartphone activities such as social media browsing, video streaming, messaging, and casual gaming.

Storage

The HONOR X5c Plus comes with 128GB of internal storage, giving users enough space for apps, photos, videos, and documents.

According to HONOR, the phone can store up to 27,000 photos, making it suitable for users who enjoy capturing moments using their smartphones.

For users who need more storage, the device also supports microSD card expansion up to 1TB, allowing additional space for media files, school projects, or downloaded content.

Battery

Battery life is one of the strong points of the HONOR X5c Plus. The phone features a 5260mAh battery designed to last throughout the day.

HONOR X5c Plus - PCMark Work 3.0 battery life
PCMark Work 3.0 battery life

Based on our PCMark Work 3.0 Battery Life test, the HONOR X5c Plus lasted 14 hours and 46 minutes on a single charge. This benchmark simulates everyday smartphone activities such as web browsing, video playback, and light productivity tasks. A result close to 15 hours suggests that the phone can comfortably last through a full day of regular use for most users.

HONOR also states that the battery can provide up to 20 hours of social media browsing, allowing users to stay connected throughout the day without constantly needing to recharge.

The phone also supports Super Power Saving Mode, where 10 percent battery can last up to 61 hours on standby. This feature can be useful during travel or long days when charging options are limited.

Additionally, the battery is designed to maintain 87 percent of its capacity even after 1000 charging cycles, which helps ensure long-term reliability for users who plan to keep their phone for several years.

Who Is the HONOR X5c Plus For?

The HONOR X5c Plus is designed for users who want a reliable smartphone for everyday activities without spending too much.

It is a good option for people who mainly use their phones for:

  • Social media browsing
  • Watching videos and streaming content
  • Online classes or video calls
  • Taking photos for social media
  • Casual mobile gaming

For students and everyday users who want a smartphone that can handle daily tasks comfortably, the HONOR X5c Plus offers a practical and budget-friendly choice.

Verdict

The HONOR X5c Plus is a practical smartphone designed for students and everyday users who want reliable features at an affordable price.

It offers a combination of long battery life, a capable 50MP camera, smooth display performance, and expandable storage, making it suitable for daily productivity, communication, and entertainment.

During everyday use, the phone handles common tasks such as browsing social media, watching videos, attending online classes, messaging friends, and playing casual mobile games without difficulty.

While it is not designed as a gaming-focused smartphone, it performs well for typical daily activities that most users rely on their phones for.

For students looking for a budget-friendly smartphone that can support school work, social media, entertainment, and everyday communication, the HONOR X5c Plus offers a reliable and well-rounded option worth considering.

HONOR X5c Plus Specifications

Display: 6.74-inch HD+ display
Refresh Rate: 90Hz
Processor: MediaTek Helio G81
CPU: 2 × Cortex-A75 2.0GHz + 6 × Cortex-A55 1.7GHz
GPU: Mali-G52 MC2
RAM: 4GB RAM (expandable up to 8GB with HONOR RAM Turbo)
Storage: 128GB
Expandable Storage: Up to 1TB microSD
Rear Camera: 50MP main camera + auxiliary camera
Front Camera: 5MP
Battery: 5260mAh
Charging: 15W wired charging
Operating System: MagicOS 9 based on Android 15
Connectivity: 4G LTE, Wi-Fi dual band, Bluetooth 5.1
Ports: USB-C, 3.5mm headphone jack
Biometrics: Side fingerprint sensor, Face recognition
Special Features: Magic Capsule, Knuckle Screenshots

Price and Availability

The HONOR X5c Plus is now available nationwide through official online stores and physical retail shops. The phone comes in two color options: Ocean Cyan and Meteor Silver, giving users a choice that suits their personal style.

The device is priced at PHP 6,999, making it an attractive option for students, young professionals, and budget-conscious users who want a capable smartphone without spending too much. At this price, the HONOR X5c Plus offers a long-lasting battery, smooth performance, and a reliable camera, all packed in a stylish yet practical design.

For those looking to upgrade their phone for everyday productivity, social media, and casual gaming, the HONOR X5c Plus presents a solid value-for-money choice that balances performance and affordability.

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Editor in Chief at Iconic MNL Blogger/Influencer Sylvester Sy is a multi-faceted individual with a background in tech and a passion for content creation. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Information System from Centro Escolar University. Currently, he leverages his expertise as the Editor-in-Chief at Iconic MNL, while also engaging audiences as a blogger and influencer.